In the last five months, Sofia Rose Conde has had 40 blood transfusions. That's a total of 40 trips from Lathrop to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with each visit requiring nine hours total – including drawing blood samples, blood testing in the lab, blood matching, and the actual blood transfusion procedure.

Christendom begins the solemn observance of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The 40 days of the Lenten season, for many believers, mark a time of penance in the form of prayer, fasting and abstinence leading up to the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.

Bluegrass music, live animals that are native to the area, guided nature walks and various hands-on educational experiences are on tap for the annual Tule Fog Fete set for March 7 at Caswell State Memorial Park just south of Manteca on Austin Road.